Electric time signaling system



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.,

J. H. GERRY. ELBGTRIG TIME SIGNALING SYSTEM. No. 508,215. Patented Nov. 7, 1893.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. H. GERRY. ELECTRIC TIME SIGNALING'SYSTEM.

No. 508,215. Patented Nov. 7, 1893.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3'.v

J. H. GERRY. ELECTRIC TIME SIGNALING SYSTEM.

No. 508,215. Patented Nov. 7,1893.

UNITED STATES I PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES H. GERRY, OF BROOKLYN, NEVV YORK.

ELECTRIC TIME SIGNALING SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 503,215, dated November 7, 1893. Application filed August 10, 1892. Serial No. 442,653- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES H. GERRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, county of Kings, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Time Signaling Systems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to those time signaling systems in which a grand master clock is at periodic intervals placed in circuit with a regular telegraph line for transmitting over the same to local clocks or circuits suitably pre-arranged signals or synchronizing currents. Heretofore, this operation of placing the grand master clock in the telegraph circuit at the proper time has been accomplished by the hand of an operator and has therefore been subject to'error resulting from lapse of memory, absence or other failure due to the necessity for human intervention.

My present system comprises a clock which shall automatically take possession of a telegraph line at the proper time, send over the same a pre-arranged set of signals .and, when the, signals are completed, automatically close the line again for the regular business. Included in the system are the grand master clock and such relays, repeaters and transmitters as are required for the sending of the desired signals.

The invention particularly consists in certain combinations of parts which are hereinafter more particularly described and then pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification: Figure I is a side elevation of a grand master clock such as contemplated by my invention, part of the casing of the clock being cutaway to show the interior mechanism. Figs. II and III areside elevations from opposite sides of the clock, parts of the mechanism behind being in each case omitted for the sake of clearness of the View. Fig. IV is a diagrammatic View of the circuits.

I will first describe the grand master clock which is illustrated in Figs. I, II and III.

The clock itself may be of any desired pattern such for example, as the so-called selfwinding clock in which a motor actuated by a local battery and connected at proper intervals by the movement of the clock itself is employed for winding the spring which propels the train. Instead however of that, any desired or usual means may be employed for propellingthe clock train.

In the drawings a clock frame is represented at 1, a clock spring at 2 and the several gears of the clock train at 3. By the said spring and gears (under the arrangement herein illustrated and which may be varied as the conditions of the service demand), four sets of contact-making wheels or disks are driven at Various speeds.

4:, 5, 6 and 7 are minute disks; 8, 9, 10 and 11 are disks revolving once in seven and onehalf minutes.

' 12 is an hour disk and 13 is a twenty-four hour disk.

14 is a contact-making lever which has two arms 15,16 engaging with the notches 17, 18 of disks 13, 12 and two arms 19, 20 which serve as contact operating arms. The arbor 14 forms the fulcrum of the lever 14, all of the parts of the said lever namely, 15,- 16, 19 and 20 being rigidly attached to the said arbor and spaced upon the same as shown in Fig. II.

21 is a contact spring mounted on an insulating block 22 and in electric connection with a conductor 23. 24: is a second contact spring mounted on the same insulating block "and in circuit with a conductor 25. The contact spring 21 pressing on the pin or nose 26 of arm 19 holds the noses of arms 15 and 16 constantly against the disks 13and 12 and, during the greater part of the period of rotation of said disks, the plain faces of the latter hold the spring 21 in bent position as illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. I so that it' cannot make contact with spring 24:, but when the arms 15, 16 drop into the notches 17, 18, the arm 19 releases the spring 21 so that the contact spring 24: may, when in its turn re-.

leased, come in contact therewith. The contact spring 24 is normally held up by the plain face of the disk 11, but is once in every arranged opposite the respective disks. The length of each notch 28 is about one-ninth of the periphery of its disk so as to allow its arm 29 to remain depressed for a period of fifty seconds. There are in the present instance three arms 29, each carried by an insulating block 30, all of which insulating blocks are pivoted in a stationary pin 31. The arms 32, one of which is rigidly attached to the under side of each insulating block 30, are all engaged by the finger 33 of arm and are thereby normally acted on in such manner as to keep all of the arms 29 from falling into their corresponding notches 28. Each insulating block carries aoontact spring or arm 34, 35, 36. 37 is a contact plate common to all of the said arms or springs. Each of said arms or springscarries an adjustable contact screw 38 which may be shifted to attain the desired delicacy of contact. From the springs or plates 34, 35, 36 and 37 areled the three outgoin'g conductors 39, i0 and Hand the common return wire 42. Coacting with the disks 8, 9 and 10 in giving the precise time and period of contact to the contact makers just describedare'the minute disks 4, 5 and 6. These are all arranged on one arbor 43. The disk 4 arranged under the hard rubber or other-nonconducting pallet or jewel 44: of spring contact 34 has a single notch 45 which at the right instant of time when the arm 29 drops into its notch 28, allows the jewel of spring 34 todrop and so make contact between the spring arm 34 and thecontact plate 37 through lts contact screw 38. The disk 5 which has a corresponding relation to thecontact-spring 35 has fifty notches arranged to operate the said contact for fifty seconds of the minute.

revolution of the said disk, the remaining one tenth of the disk being left blankas'shown in Fig. IV. The third disk 6, arranged in corresponding relation to the contact spring 36 is notched in the same manner as the disk 5.

46,47are lever arms pivoted at 48 and en-' gaging respectively with notches 49 and 50 They are rigid with a' connected by a rod 52- with the insulating block 53. Said block is pivoted at 54 and carries a contact arm or on disks 12 and 13. thirdarm 51 which is spring-55-olectrically connected to conductor 56'and adapted, when depressed, to make con-: tact with-a metal spring or plate 57 which is in electric connection with wire 58. The

spring contact 55 has a jewel 59 which rests on the periphery of the fourth minute disk 7. Said disk has a single notch 60 so timed as to pass under the jewel 59 and allow the depression of spring 55 for sending the grand noon signal.

The above described grand master clock may be used for sending direct to line the required time signal, but it is preferably em-. ployed for operating in the manner hereinafter described, suitable transmitting devices which send the required signals to line and whichare advantageous for the reason that they enable the sending of more prolonged signals which are consequently transmitted with greater certainty.

The operation of the system will be best understood by reference to the diagrammatic view (Fig. IV) wherein I have shown only so much of the above described grand master mitting key and other devices of a telegraph or other regular circuit, is normally closed through the relay by the armature 66 of the latter resting against the metallic front contact 67. When by the operation of the grand master clock, thedisks 12 and 13 have turned so that the notches 17 and 18 are brought opposite the arms 15 and 16 atsay, three minutes and ten seconds before't'he noon hour, the arms fall into thesaid notches and the spring 21 is released so that when the disk 11 next brings the notch-27 opposite the spring 24, the latter will drop into contact with spring'21 closing the local circuit through the relay magnet 61 which draws the armature 66 back against the insulating back contact 68 breaking the regular telegraph circui-tyat the same instant the arm 20 releases all of the arms 29 soas topermit them to come successively under the action of the disk 8. At 11.57 the contact 29 having fallen intothe notch 28 of the disk 8 the 'contactspring 31isallowed by the notch l5 of disk 4 to drop and make contact for an instant with the common return plate 37. The current now traverses contact maker 37, 34, the'outgoing wire 39 to themagnet coil 69 of transmitter 70, thence by wire 71 to the common return wire 42, battery 72 back to contact plate 37. The magnet 69 is thus energized, drawing downits armature 73 and releasing the train 'ietwhich drives in customary manner a signaling disk 75; saiddisk 75 makes thus interrupted contact with a contact spring 76. The contact spring 76 is in oonnectionbywire 77 with the conductor 78 common to all the transmitters leading to one end of the line 61 through binding post 79 while the contact'disk 75 is in connection through its driving train and the bindinglpost 80 with the branch wire 81 and aconductor 82 common to allof the transmitters leading to the other binding post 83 amino to the'other end of the main line. =It-is understood that the usual relay, sounder an d ground connections are employed on main lineso that the contact maker 75, 7 Swill transwhich is continued rapidly at intervals for fifty seconds. At the expirationof this 'period the disk 8 raises its arm 29 so as to separate the contacts 37 and3S and thus cut out the transmitter 70. The disk '75 is driven so as to rotate in a second or less. At 11.58 the second arm 29 falls into the notch 28 mit thereover the warning signal time of disk- 9 and the disk makes in fifty seconds fifty interrupted contacts between the spring arm 35 andv the contact plate 37. The second transmitter 84 is thusconnected in the circuit. The connection is from spring 35 through wire 85 to the magnet coils;

86 of transmitter 84 and thence bybranch wire 87 to the common return 42 and common contact plate 37 (in thediagram, Fig. IV, a contact plate 37 is shown for each of the ness of illustration). The magnet of transmitter Set being thus energized draws back'its armature 88 and thus releasing the notched disk 89 to the action of the usual spring pro-- pelled train, and arranged to rotate in one second and making contact by spring 90 with.

. set screw 9l connected by branch wire 92 to the common wire 82 leading to the main line. The other end 76 of the main line is connected by branch wire 93 With the armature 88. The first contact of spring 90 with the set screw 91 is thus made by the action of magnet 86, at the beginning of each second. The half second beat is given mechanically by the slanting shoulderl94 of disk 89engaging the contact of armature 88. Thereare 7 thus sent over the line double beats for every second for fifty seconds when by the continned operation of the disk 9 the contact spring 35 is cut out,'thus cutting out the transmitter 84. I At 11.59 by a similar action the third arm 29 drops into the notch 28 of disk 10 and the spring contact36 anddisk 6 come into action connecting in the third transmitter 95. The circuit from the contact maker 36, 37 is then through the wire, 96, the coils V of magnet 97 of transmitter 95, branch wire to the main line and sending thereover asin- 98 and the common wire 71, 42 backto the transmitter-battery 72and the commoncontact plate 37, This action draws back the armature 99 making contact between spring 100 and set screw 101 which latter is connected by Wire 102 with the common wire 82 leading through binding post 83 to the main line. The other end of themain line is connected by the common wire 78 and branch wire 103 with the pivoted armature 99. The transmitting disk 104 which is arranged to rotate 'inone second is. then releasedto the action of its train so thatits notch will pass.

thecontact of armature 99 and its plain surface will hold the contact between parts 100 and 101 for five-sixths of a second, thus insuring thetransmission to line of single seconds beats for fifty seconds. The disk 10 then breaks the contact between 36 and 37 and cuts out the third transmitter. At exactly twelve oclock noon, the fourth small disk 7 brings its single notch under the jewel 59 of spring contact 55 whichthus drops against the contact 57 making circuit through the wires 56, 58

gle grand hour signal. At six seconds past the noon hour, the disk 11 raises the spring 2 1 from contact with spring 21 and the disks 12, 13 lift.- the arms 16, 15 so that thearm 20 will hold .up'the insulatingblock 30 while the arm 19- graphic or other transmitting and receiving contacts 34:, 35, 36; this is for the sake of clear instruments normally in circuit, mechanism substantially as described adapted to automatically cut out the said instruments, to send a series of pre-arranged signals to line and to then restore the circuit to its normal condition, substantially as set forth.

. 2. In a time signaling system, in combination with a main line having normally in cir-' 'cuit telegraphic or other transmitting and receiving instruments, mechanism substantially as described adapted to automatically open and close the said main line, suitable: transmitting instruments for sending to line a series of pre-arranged signals, and mechanism substantially as described adapted to operate while said line is open and to cause the said signal transmitters to operate.

3. The combination of the main line of a telegraphic or other circuit, of a relay through which said line is normally closed, contact plates or springs, 21,24 in circuit with the relay magnetcoils,continuously moving notched disks 12, 13 operated at different speeds and a lever havingtwo arms 16, 15 adapted toengage in said notches, simultaneously and to make or break contact between saidplates or springs, substantially as described.

4:. In a time signalingsystem,the combination of a main line, mechanism substantiallyas described for opening the same, a, series of prearranged signal transmitting instruments anda series of automatically time-operated devices adapted .toconnectin said transmitters successively and cause the same to send successively to line the proper pre-arranged signals, substantially as described.

5. In a time signaling system, the combination of a main line, a series of transm tting,

instrumentsadapted to transmit pro-arranged signals, a series of circuit makers connected with the respective transmittersand adapted to be operated successively, and means adapted to place the said circuit-makers simultaneouslyinto and out of operative positi0n,substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of .the series of pre-arranged signal-transmitting devices, the series of circuit makers respectively connected therewith, a series of notched disks 8,9 and 10, adaptedto operate, substantially in the manner described, the saidcircuit makers, the timeoperated notched disks'12, 13 moving at different speeds, and the lever. having two arms 15,16 adapted to engage the latter disks and to place said circuit makers simultaneously in ,orout of. engagement with said disks,-,

8, 9, 10, substantially-as set forth.

7. hecomhinationof the disks -12,13'having notches 18, 17 adapted to correspond at pro-determined times with the position of arms 16, 15, lever 14 having an arm 20, and said arms 16, 15, disks 8, 9, and having notches arranged to come successively in action, and a series of circuit makers 34:,35, 36 37 arranged to be operated simultaneously by arm and successively by disks 8, 9, 10, substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

8. The combination of the series of pre arranged-signal-transmitting instruments-70, Sat, 95, the series of contact springs and plates 34, 35, 36, 37 in circuittherewith, the several disks 4, 5 and 6, each corresponding to one of said instruments and having appropriate notches'or devices for operating said contacts 34, 35,36, arms 29 connected withrespective contacts-34, 35, and36,-notched disks 8, 9 and 10, arm 32, lever 14 comprising arms 20, 16 and 15 and thenotch-time-operated disks 12 and 13,substantially'as set forth.

9. The combination of the main line, the relay through which said line is normally closed, the time operated mechanism for opening'said circuit, including said relay and-the whichsaid spring 24 engages, substantiallyas and for the purposes setforth.

10. In a-time signaling system,the combination with amain line and time operated mechanism-foropeningand-closiugthesame, a'grand hour signal device,comprisingtwo disks operated at different speeds and having notches arranged to correspond at a pro-determined time, alever having armswhichem gage simultaneously in said notches, and a contact device operated thereby, substantially as set forth.

11. The eonibinationof the notched disks 12, 13,-the lever comprising arms '46, L7, 51,the rod 52, the stationary'coniact 57,-the'movable contact -55 having pin or jewel 59 and connected with saiii rod, a notched dis-k 7, a"main electric-line and branch conductors froin-said contacts 57,55jto'said main line,-substantiaily as setforth.

JAMES H. GERRY.

Witnesses:

HARRY E. KNIGHT, H. W. THOMAS. 

